iv
it, and a mesmerizing window granting us an accurate vision of their times
and way of life. How the view through that window impacts your personal
position in the Wicca VS Witchcraft debate is entirely up to you.
For those Wiccans/Witches/Pagans who find Christianity distasteful or
troubling, be warned that some sections of this book, especially those taken
from John George Hohman’s Pow-Wows; Or, Long Lost Friend, make
extensive use of Christian language and imagery – but keep in mind when
you study these passages that the Christianity practiced by Pennsylvania
Dutch Pow Wow magicians is by no means the same Sunday morning
moralism espoused by your squeaky-clean Protestant neighbors or even the
robed priests manning the altar at the Catholic Cathedral downtown. Like
the Afro-Caribbean religions of Voodoo, Santeria, et al, Pow Wow (and all
other, genuinely preserved European magickal traditions) survived
centuries of Christian persecution by "embracing the enemy," painting the
ancient gods and spirits in the colors, names and stories of the Mother
Church, while secretly maintaining the inner integrity of the original
system. When you read these passages, see past the veneer to the truths
contained inside. Change "Jesus" to "Zeus" or "Thor" and "The Virgin Mary"
to "Hera" or "Freya," and the spell will still work. Real gods are not picky
about the names by which mortals invoke them!
Finally, please be aware that much real ancient witchcraft was, to put it
frankly, quite grotesque. Some spells in this volume call for the flesh of
human corpses or the body parts of animals. Any 21st century magick user
worth his or her salt, and with a copy of any "Wicca-101" table of
correspondences in hand, ought to be able to dream up a dozen non-lethal,
safe and legal substitutions for any such spell ingredient. There's more than
one way to skin a cat, as the saying goes, and only whacko teenage Satanists
and other low self-esteem losers actually do such things anymore. It's the
21st Century, folks -- Improvise! Cats are sacred to the Goddess in just about
every ancient culture on Earth. Skin one and you will pay... Witch or
Wiccan – be smart! Don't risk Divine Disembowelment!
Happy spellcasting!
Hrafen Starbourne, Editor
Samhain Song Press
(^1) The term "fluffy bunny is used within Neopaganism as derogatory label for
Wiccans and other religious Neopagans who tend to focus primarily upon the most
accessible or emotionally uplifting aspects of the faith, while downplaying the more
serious, traditional aspects, often expressing their beliefs in a New Age or "sweetness
and light" manner.